Roller press

ABSTRACT

A die is mounted in a roller press by means of sprung clamping segments, which can be eased by means of hydraulic jacks for replacing the die.

United States Patent 11 1 Heesen July 3, 1973' 41 ROLLER PRESS I75]inventor: Theodorus .lacobus Heesen, Boxtel, [56] I Re'erences CitedNetherlands UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,927,488 3/1960 Petereit 72/238 [731Assgnee' simon'neese" 50ml 3.332270 7/1967 Jordans 72/238 Netherlands3,435,652 4/l969 D1010: 72/238 x 3,544',l4l 12/1970 Schuetzmanm. 72/238X [22] Filed 1971 246,513 8/1881 Ireland 279/65. [21 Appl. 190.; 116,822

v Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr [30] Foreign Application Priority DataAttorney-Blue!" Brown Ram'k Holt Feb. 25, Netherlands I v [52] U S Cl72/238 A die is mounted in a roller press by means of sprung [51] 31/08clamping segments, which can be eased by means of 58 Field of Search72/238, 245, 246, hydraulic jacks eplacing the 8 Claims, 6 DrawingFigures 6' a 17 I I my 1 1o 20. I l f +1 1 9 q l 1 29 I i i PATENTEU JUL3 I975 SHEET 2-01 3 INVENTOR. HEUDURUS JRCOBUS HEESEN ATTIJQIQEY'SPAIENTEDJUVLS 191s 3.742.750

SHEU 3 BF 3 l I ////V///// 34 INVENTOR. 'THEDDDRUS JncuBllS HEESENATTORNEYS ROLLER PRESS This invention relates to a roller presscomprising a die mounted on a column, said column being arranged to bedriven for rotation about a stationary shaft mounted in a frame andhaving at least one press roller co-operating with said die, the diebeing secured to the column by means of movable clamping segments forthe die to be mounted free of play relative to the column.

conventionally, in such a roller press, the die is retained by means offirmly tightened screws, as is known, for example, from Dutch Patentapplication No. 67.05226, published Nov. 7, 1967. With such aconstruction, replacement of the die is time-consuming and cumbersome.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedconstruction for mounting the die in a roller press of the kind definedin the opening paragraph of this specification.

According to the invention, there is provided a roller press comprisinga die mounted on a column, said column being arranged to be driven forrotation about a stationary shaft mounted in a frame and having at leastone press roller co-operating with said die, the die being secured tothe column by means of movable clamping segments for the die to bemounted free of play relative .to the column, characterized in that theclamping segments can be maintained in the clamping position by springmeans, there being provided adjusting means for easing the clampingsegments against the spring action for replacing the die.

It is thus achieved that the die can be released from the column bysimply overcoming the spring forces, and can also be rapidly set up.

To ensure proper centring of the die even in the released position, themovable clamping segments may peripherally alternate with fixedlymounted centring segments, which may be provided with follower means fortransmitting at least part of the driving forces to the die.

In an effective embodiment, the clamping segments can be controlled bymeans of a thrust ring axially mov' able relatively to the column, whilepreferably the adjusting means comprise a plurality of hydraulic jacksspaced concentrically around the column and mounted on a base, saidjacks being spaced from said thrust ring in an inoperative position, butbeing capable of maintaining' the clamping segments in the eased statethrough said thrust ring in an operative position. By virtue of thisconstruction, when the die is fixed, the connection between thestationary part and the rotary part of the adjusting means is broken,which makes possible a very simple construction of the adjusting means.

To prevent the forces occurring during the releasing of the die frombeing transmitted to the bearings of the rotary column, the base of thehydraulic jacks may be axially sprung in the frame, the arrangementbeing such that, in the operative position of the jacks, said base isurged against an abutment on the column against the spring action.

Some embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings. In said drawings,

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a roller press providedwith die mounting means according to the invention, taken on the line II ofFIG. 2, the lefthand side of the figure showing the relativepositions of the elements in the tightened position of the die, and theright-hand side of the figure in the eased position of the die;

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a detail on the line IV IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of an hydraulic circuit for the operation ofhydraulic jacks; and

FIG. 6 shows a detail of a modified embodiment of the clamping segmentsand the control of same.

A die 1 for a roller press is mounted on a column 2 driven for rotation.For the sake of simplicity, a stationary shaft which mounts the column 2for rotation by means of bearings as shown for example in Dutch Pat.application No. 67.05226, have been omitted from the drawing. The die 1is mounted on the upper end of column 2 by means of fixed centeringsegments 3 and axially movable clamping segments 4. The clampingsegments 4 are connected to a thrust ring 6 by means of bolts 5.interposed between the upper end of the column and thrust ring 6 are aplurality of springs 7. Thrust ring 6 can be axially displaced relativeto column 2 by means of hydraulic jacks 8. Hydraulic jacks 8 aresupported on a base plate 9, which in turn is mounted in a frame 10 ofthe roller press. The lower end of column 2 carries a pulley 11.

The fixed centering segments 3 are secured in the upper end of column 2by means of filister head screws 12. The heads of these screws arecountersunk in corresponding recesses in die 1, so that part of thedriving forces can be transmitted to the die through these heads.Clamping segments 4 have a horizontal face 13 and a cylindrical face 14contiguous with corresponding surfaces of die 1. On the outside, theclamping sur-,

faces have a frustoconical surface corresponding with a similar surface15 in the head of column 2. The bolts 5 are screwed into the underfaceof clamping segments 4, on the one hand, and are fixed on thrust ring 6by means of a shoulder and a nut, on the other. In the example shown,the springs 7 take the form of rubber springs and are arranged aroundcentering pins 16. These centering pins (also see FIG. 4).are mounted inthrust ring 6 and define the stroke of the thrust ring relative to thehead of column 2. I

Hydraulic jacks 8 each comprise a plunger 17 with a piston 18 thereon,cylinder 19, and compression spring 20. As will be seen from FIG. 5, thehydraulic jacks, six in the example shown, may be connected to a commonduct 21 including a pressure gauge 22. This duct can be provided withoil-under-pressure from an oil pressure pump 24 with by-pass 25.

Base plate 9, on which jacks 8 are mounted, is in turn resilientlymounted in frame 10 by means of a plurality of supports 26 and bolts 27and by means of springs 28. The springs 28 bear on supports 29, boltedto frame 10. Bolts 27 are secured in supports 29 as well.

In the position of die 1 in column 2 as shown in the left-hand side ofFIG. 1, clamping segments 4 are drawn into conical recess 15 of the headof column 2 under the influence of compression spring 7 through bolts 5and thrust ring 6. The clamping segments 4 will tend to move inwardly,as a result of which the die will be retained by the clamping surfaces14 of segments 4. In this position, the heads of bolts 12 lie in thecorre-' sponding recesses in die 1, so that the driving forces can atleast inpart be transmitted to the die. In this position, thrust ring 6is clear of the ends of plungers l7 ofjacks 8, so that when the column 2is driven through pulley 11, the assembly can freely rotate.

For the removal of a die, the roller press is stopped, whereafteroil-under pressure is passed to jacks 8 by means of pump 24 throughvalve 23 and ducts 21. This will urge plunger 17 with pistons 18outwardly into contact with thrust plate 6 against the action of springs20. Thrust plate 6 is moved upwards co-axially relatively to column 2against the action of springs 7. This will also force die 1 withclamping segments 4 to move upwardly, easing conical surfaces 15 of thehead of the column and of the clamping segments away from each other, sothat clamping segments 4 can be moved slightly outwardly, and die 1 isreleased. The die can now easily be removed from the press and replacedby another. In this position the die will be centered relatively tocolumn 2 by fixed centering segments 3. In the operative position ofjacks 8, whereby clamping segments 4 have been released, not only willthe forces generated in the jacks tend to move thrust plate 6 upwardly,but they will tend to move the base plate 9 downwardly as well. The baseplate can slightly compress springs 28 through supports 26, whereby thebase plate comes to rest on the upper edge of pulley 11. The thusoccurring forces are further exclusively transmitted from the jacksthrough base plate 9 and, pulley 11 into column 2, so that not only arethe unillustrated bearings mounting column 2 on the shaft (not shown)maintained free of additional loads, but the other parts, such as frame10, are not subjected to undue forces which may occur during thereleasing of clamping seg ments 4. When the oil pressure is released,plungers 17 will be retracted under the influence of springs 20, andthrust plate 6 will resume the position shown in the lefthand side ofFIG. 1 under the influence of springs 7, so that clamping segments 4will again clampingly engage a die.

It should be noted that, although springs 7 and hydraulic jacks 8 areused in the embodiment described above, other clamping means, forexample, a pawl system or mechanical jacks, may be used, while thehydraulic jacks may be replaced by other forcetransmitting means, suchas levers and the like.

In the variant embodiment of FIG. 6, the die is retained by cleats 26engaging in a peripheral groove of the die. Springs 7 are disposed on anextension of each cleat 26 and bear on supports 27, bolted to column 2in known manner not shown.

Column 2 is provided with guide means for cleats 26 and for axiallymovable pins 29. Pins 29 have recessed cam surfaces 30 arranged toco-operate with shafts 31 on cleats 26. Pins 29 are all mounted on athrust ring 32 which via an auxiliary ring 33 can be displaced by jacks8, so that the cleats can be moved outwardly against the action ofsprings 7. In FIG. 6, the jacks are mounted on a support plate 34 offrame 10.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for releaseably clamping a die of a roller press and likestructure on a driving column for rotation therewith wherein said dieand said column have telescopically arranged surfaces and said column ismounted in a frame, said apparatus including axially and radiallymovable clamping segments each having a first surface in radial thrustengaging relation with said die and second surfaces cammingly reactingrelative to said column, resilient means normally urging said secondsurfaces in a direction to effect a camming action urging saidtelescopically arranged surfaces radially together, and adjusting meansfor selectively overcoming said resilient means and releasing saidclamping segments to facilitate the removal of said die, the clampingsegments peripherally alternating with fixedly mounted centeringsegments.

2. A roller press according to claim 1, wherein all of the clampingsegments are controllable by' a single thrust ring axially movablerelatively to the column, said thrust ring being a part of saidadjusting means.

3. Apparatus for releaseably clamping a die of a roller press and likestructure on a driving column for rotation therewith wherein said dieand said column have telescopically arranged surfaces and said column ismounted in a frame, said apparatus including axially and radiallymovable clamping segments each having a first surface in radial thrustengaging relation with said die and second surfaces cammingly reactingrelative to said column, resilient means normally urging said secondsurfaces in a direction to effect a camming action urging saidtelescopically arranged surfaces radially together, and adjusting meansfor selectively overcoming said resilient means and releasing saidclamping segments to facilitate the removal of said die, the adjustingmeans comprising a thrust ring axially movable relatively to the columnfor controlling said clamping segments and a plurality of hydraulicjacks mounted on a base and concentrically spaced about the column, saidjacks being spaced from the thrust ring in an inoperative position, andcapable of maintaining the clamping segments in the eased state throughsaid thrust ring in an operative position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hydraulic jacks have abase axially resiliently mounted in the frame, the arrangement beingsuch that, in the operative position of the jacks, the base is urgedagainst an abutment on the column against the action of said resilientmeans, so that the forces active to ease the clamping segments aretransmitted virtually exclusively through the column.

5. A roller press according to claim 3 wherein the hydraulic jacks havea base axially resiliently mounted in the frame, the arrangement beingsuch that, in the operative position of the jacks, the base is urgedagainst an abutment on the column against the action of said resilientmeans, so that the forces active to ease the clamping segments aretransmitted virtually exclusively through the column.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fixedly mounted centeringsegments have follower means for transmitting at least a part of thedriving force from said column to said die.

7. A roller press comprising a die mounted on a rotatable column carriedby a frame, the die being secured to said column free of play relativeto said column by movable clamping segments engaged with said die andmovable relative to said column, resilient means constantly urging saidclamping segments to a die clamping position, and adjusting meansassociated with said resilient means for easing the effect of saidresilient means on said clamping segments, fixedly mounted centeringsegments alternating with said clamping segments, and follower meansoperatively associated with said centering segments for at least in parttransmitting a driving force from said column to said die.

' prising a thrust ring axially movable relatively to the folumn forcontrolling said clamping segments and a plurality of hydraulic jacksmounted on a base and concentrically spaced about the column, said jacksbeing spaced from the thrust ring in an inoperative position, andcapable of maintaining the clamping segments in the eased state throughsaid thrust ring in an operative position.

1. Apparatus for releaseably clamping a die of a roller press and likestructure on a driving column for rotation therewith wherein said dieand said column have telescopically arranged surfaces and said column ismounted in a frame, said apparatus including axially and radiallymovable clamping segments each having a first surface in radial thrustengaging relation with said die and second surfaces cammingly reactingrelative to said column, resilient means normally urging said secondsurfaces in a direction to effect a camming action urging saidtelescopically arranged surfaces radially together, and adjusting meansfor selectively overcoming said resilient means and releasing saidclamping segments to facilitate the removal of said die, the clampingsegments peripherally alternating with fixedly mounted centeringsegments.
 2. A roller press according to claim 1, wherein all of theclamping segments are controllable by a single thrust ring axiallymovable relatively to the column, said thrust ring being a part of saidadjusting means.
 3. Apparatus for releaseably clamping a die of a rollerpress and like structure on a driving column for rotation therewithwherein said die and said column have telescopically arranged surfacesand said column is mounted in a frame, said apparatus including axiallyand radially movable clamping segments each having a first surface inradial thrust engaging relation with said die and second surfacescammingly reacting relative to said column, resilient means normallyurging said seconD surfaces in a direction to effect a camming actionurging said telescopically arranged surfaces radially together, andadjusting means for selectively overcoming said resilient means andreleasing said clamping segments to facilitate the removal of said die,the adjusting means comprising a thrust ring axially movable relativelyto the column for controlling said clamping segments and a plurality ofhydraulic jacks mounted on a base and concentrically spaced about thecolumn, said jacks being spaced from the thrust ring in an inoperativeposition, and capable of maintaining the clamping segments in the easedstate through said thrust ring in an operative position.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the hydraulic jacks have a base axiallyresiliently mounted in the frame, the arrangement being such that, inthe operative position of the jacks, the base is urged against anabutment on the column against the action of said resilient means, sothat the forces active to ease the clamping segments are transmittedvirtually exclusively through the column.
 5. A roller press according toclaim 3 wherein the hydraulic jacks have a base axially resilientlymounted in the frame, the arrangement being such that, in the operativeposition of the jacks, the base is urged against an abutment on thecolumn against the action of said resilient means, so that the forcesactive to ease the clamping segments are transmitted virtuallyexclusively through the column.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein said fixedly mounted centering segments have follower means fortransmitting at least a part of the driving force from said column tosaid die.
 7. A roller press comprising a die mounted on a rotatablecolumn carried by a frame, the die being secured to said column free ofplay relative to said column by movable clamping segments engaged withsaid die and movable relative to said column, resilient means constantlyurging said clamping segments to a die clamping position, and adjustingmeans associated with said resilient means for easing the effect of saidresilient means on said clamping segments, fixedly mounted centeringsegments alternating with said clamping segments, and follower meansoperatively associated with said centering segments for at least in parttransmitting a driving force from said column to said die.
 8. A rollerpress comprising a die mounted on a rotatable column carried by a frame,the die being secured to said column free of play relative to saidcolumn by movable clamping segments engaged with said die and movablerelative to said column, resilient means constantly urging said clampingsegments to a die clamping position, and adjusting means associated withsaid resilient means for easing the effect of said resilient means onsaid clamping segments, said adjusting means comprising a thrust ringaxially movable relatively to the folumn for controlling said clampingsegments and a plurality of hydraulic jacks mounted on a base andconcentrically spaced about the column, said jacks being spaced from thethrust ring in an inoperative position, and capable of maintaining theclamping segments in the eased state through said thrust ring in anoperative position.